Muddywellies
Well-Known Member
As title
My yard is locked down although we have very little movement at present, however, I have canceled horses coming in for lessons. In reality, I think we're fairly low risk but it's better safe than sorry as there are cases 20 -30 miles away.
Nope nothing has been said. Central Scotland
I can’t help thinking that a lot of yards are overreacting, equine flu is always around granted in lesser proportions. Current veterinary advice is lockdown is only necessary if you have a horse on your yard affected or showing symptoms. The virus is air born but only spreads about 100m, so hacking to should be fine.
Our yard is not on lockdown, we have all had vaccinations within 6 months as a precaution. We are less than 5 miles from Donald McCains yard.
The virus is air born but only spreads about 100m, so hacking to should be fine.
Eh? Even if the virus spread a maximum of 100m (and it can spread much further on a windy day), if you hack past a field of infected and unvaccinated horses which are near the road you will be putting your horse at risk of picking up and spreading infection.The virus is air born but only spreads about 100m, so hacking to should be fine.
Our yard is not on lockdown, we have all had vaccinations within 6 months as a precaution. We are less than 5 miles from Donald McCains yard.
Vaccinated horses have had very mild symptoms though, it’s like the human flu vaccination you can still get the same strain of flu that you have been vaccinated against but you will get a lot milder form of it, so very unlikely to die.I dunno, how old was the unvaccinated one that died? Since vaccinated horses are getting it too, then an older vaccinated horse could get it and die too. Hopefully not though. Or what about horses that have a weak immune system? I think it's better to be safe than sorry. Would definitely rather over react than under react.
Our vets said we were ok to do this , I do hack the opposite way from McCanns just as a precaution but as 5 miles away probably totally unnecessary, we will see.Eh? Even if the virus spread a maximum of 100m (and it can spread much further on a windy day), if you hack past a field of infected and unvaccinated horses which are near the road you will be putting your horse at risk of picking up and spreading infection.
Last week our vets, (same area), were recommending that we locals to the McCain yard did NOT hack out, though this may have relaxed now (not sure). AA, who unfortunately is in a current EI hotspot, has also been advised not to hack out.
I agree, though, that those of us with horses who are up to date with vaccinations including a recent booster are likely best placed for a swifter return to usual activities.
No, I went to my lesson last weekend and I'm competing tomorrow.
Others on the yard have been to lessons and hacked. We are all in contact with our vets and speaking to each other and YO and trying to be sensible.
My competion venue has put extra measures in place and I wouldn't go if I thought I was putting my horse at risk.
If you really believe this, then why do you think racing is back on ? Or do you think it shouldn’t be ?And here is an example of the very reason why the disease is not being successfully contained. Owners who are only thinking about their own horse. 'Your' horse may well be vaccinated, 'your' horse may only be mildly unwell if he is unfortunate enough to come into contact with the disease. BUT, lets think about what 'your' horse can do to others. 'Your' horse can carry the disease back to others, those others can spread it to others, some may be mildly affected, some maybe very sick. Some will cost a small fortune to get well again.
There is a hunter hireling yard in the Midands, that has 15 positive horses in the yard. The yard has been very honest and open about their sad situation and has made sure they have let everyone know. Let's think about the logistics of this. Those hunter hireling horses may have been hired to people to hunt across 5 different pack of hounds. The average Saturday field will be 100 horses, all in contact with a flu carrier. Those one hundred horses all go home to let's say, 50 different yards. In those 50 yards is another quantity of horses. In those yards are owners who have no regard, understanding or interest in how EF spreads, so off they go to the dressage and meet up with another load of horses and so the disease continues.
I fail to see why owners cannot see the bigger picture. Facebook is covered with owners stating their horse is fine, so lets crack on. Maybe it is inexperience, maybe it is 'head in the sand' attitude, or maybe it is just 'I am alright and xxx the rest of you.